Device for inspecting a cleave of an optical fiber endface, and related components, systems and methods

Abstract

A fiber inspection device is configured to inspect a cleave of an optical fiber endface. The device may also be configured to inspect a polish of the optical fiber using the same imaging hardware and/or software. Just as it is important to attain a smooth uniform polish of the optical fiber endface, it is equally important that the initial cleave generate a flat and uniform surface. If an adequate cleave is not attained, signal attenuation may occur, even if the polish of the endface is of otherwise high quality. Thus, by enabling cleave inspection both in the field and lab settings, overall quality control can be increased.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A fiber inspection device for inspecting a cleave and/or polish of an optical fiber when used with a camera that has at least one optical input, the fiber inspection device comprising:
 a first optical input;   an optical fiber guide configured to guide and maintain an end portion of a first optical fiber against or at a focal distance from the first optical input; and   a beam splitter, comprising:
 a first optical interface configured to receive and direct light returned from the end portion of the first optical fiber in a first optical path, wherein the first optical input is positioned in the first optical path; and 
 at least one optical splitter disposed in the first optical path configured to direct returned light returned from the optical fiber guide via the first optical interface to a second optical interface in a second optical path; 
   wherein the fiber inspection device is configured to be attached to the camera with the at least one optical input of the camera disposed in the second optical path such that the camera can image the returned light returned from the optical fiber guide.   
     
     
         23 . A fiber inspection device according to  claim 22 , wherein the second optical path is perpendicular to the first optical path. 
     
     
         24 . A fiber inspection device according to  claim 22 , wherein the second optical path is coaxial with the first optical path. 
     
     
         25 . A fiber inspection device according to  claim 22 , wherein the optical fiber guide comprises an adapter ferrule or V-groove. 
     
     
         26 . A fiber inspection device according to  claim 22 , wherein the end portion of the first optical fiber is disposed in a fiber optic connector and the optical fiber guide is a fiber optic adapter configured to guide and maintain at least a portion of the fiber optic connector. 
     
     
         27 . A fiber inspection device according to  claim 22 , further comprising at least one first micro-objective lens disposed between the first optical interface and the optical fiber guide, wherein the at least one first micro-objective lens is a GRIN lens. 
     
     
         28 . A fiber inspection device according to  claim 22 , further comprising an aperture stop configured to align the second optical interface with the optical input of the camera, wherein the aperture stop is further configured to block light sources other than the the light directed to the second optical interface by the at least one optical splitter. 
     
     
         29 . A fiber inspection device according to  claim 22 , wherein the beam splitter further comprises a third optical interface configured to receive source light from a light source in a third optical path and to direct the source light to the at least one optical splitter along the third optical path, the at least one optical splitter further configured to direct the source light to the optical fiber guide via the first optical interface. 
     
     
         30 . A fiber inspection device according to  claim 29 , further comprising a lens disposed in a fourth optical path, the lens being configured to direct the source light from a light source to the third optical interface. 
     
     
         31 . A fiber inspection device according to  claim 30 , wherein the fourth optical path is perpendicular to the third optical path, the fiber inspection device further comprising a beam bender configured to direct the source light received from the lens in the fourth optical path to the third optical interface in the third optical path. 
     
     
         32 . A fiber inspection device according to  claim 29 , further comprising:
 a second optical input; and   a second optical fiber guide configured to guide and maintain an end portion of a second optical fiber against or at a focal distance from the second optical input;   wherein the beam splitter further includes a fourth optical interface configured to receive and direct light returned from the end portion of the second optical fiber in a fifth optical path, wherein the second optical input is positioned in the fifth optical path; and   wherein the at least one optical splitter is disposed in the fifth optical path and configured to direct returned light returned from the second optical fiber guide via the second optical interface to the second optical interface in the second optical path.   
     
     
         33 . An optical fiber inspection system for inspecting a cleave and/or polish of an optical fiber, comprising:
 a fiber inspection device comprising
 a first optical input; 
 an optical fiber guide configured to guide and maintain an end portion of a first optical fiber against or at a focal distance from the first optical input; and 
 a beam splitter, comprising:
 a first optical interface configured to receive and direct light returned from the end portion of the first optical fiber in a first optical path, wherein the first optical input is positioned in the first optical path; and 
 at least one optical splitter disposed in the first optical path configured to direct returned light returned from the optical fiber guide via the first optical interface to a second optical interface in a second optical path; and 
 
   a camera to which the fiber inspection device is attached, the camera having at least one optical input disposed in the second optical path such that the camera is configured to image the returned light returned from the optical fiber guide.   
     
     
         34 . An optical fiber inspection system according to  claim 33 , wherein the camera is a portable camera, the fiber inspection device being part of a removable assembly that is removably attached to at least one outer surface of the portable camera. 
     
     
         35 . An optical fiber inspection system according to  claim 34 , wherein the portable camera is integrated into a mobile computing device. 
     
     
         36 . An optical fiber inspection system according to  claim 33 , wherein the fiber inspection device and camera are part of an integrated assembly. 
     
     
         37 . An optical fiber inspection system according to  claim 33 , wherein the second optical path is perpendicular to the first optical path. 
     
     
         38 . An optical fiber inspection system according to  claim 33 , wherein the beam splitter further comprises a third optical interface configured to receive source light from a light source in a third optical path and to direct the source light to the at least one optical splitter along the third optical path, the at least one optical splitter further configured to direct the source light to the optical fiber guide via the first optical interface. 
     
     
         39 . An optical fiber inspection system according to  claim 38 , further comprising a lens disposed in a fourth optical path, the lens being configured to direct the source light from a light source to the third optical interface, the fourth optical path being perpendicular to the third optical path, and the fiber inspection device further comprising a beam bender configured to direct the source light received from the lens in the fourth optical path to the third optical interface in the third optical path. 
     
     
         40 . A fiber inspection device according to  claim 38 , further comprising:
 a second optical input; and   a second optical fiber guide configured to guide and maintain an end portion of a second optical fiber against or at a focal distance from the second optical input;   wherein the beam splitter further includes a fourth optical interface configured to receive and direct light returned from the end portion of the second optical fiber in a fifth optical path, wherein the second optical input is positioned in the fifth optical path; and   wherein the at least one optical splitter is disposed in the fifth optical path and configured to direct returned light returned from the second optical fiber guide via the second optical interface to the second optical interface in the second optical path.   
     
     
         41 . A method of inspecting optical fiber with a fiber inspection device and a camera, wherein the fiber inspection device includes a first optical input, an optical fiber guide, and a beam splitter, the method comprising:
 disposing an end portion of a first optical fiber in the optical fiber guide to guide and maintain the end portion of the first optical fiber against or at a focal distance from the first optical input of the fiber inspection device; and   receiving light returned from the optical fiber guide at an optical input of the camera, wherein the beam splitter includes a first optical interface that receives and direct light returned from the end portion of the first optical fiber in a first optical path in which the first optical input and the at least one optical splitter are positioned, and further wherein the at least one optical splitter directs returned light returned from the optical fiber guide via the first optical interface to a second optical interface in a second optical path, the optical input of the camera being disposed in the second optical path   
     
     
         42 . A method according to  claim 41 , further comprising:
 displaying a representation of the light returned from the optical fiber guide on a display of the camera.   
     
     
         43 . A method according to  claim 42 , wherein the camera is a portable camera integrated into a mobile computing device, the method further comprising:
 removably attaching the fiber inspection device to the camera; and   using an application on the mobile computing device to analyze the images taken by the camera.